James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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or by email:gurneyjourney (at) gmail.comSorry, I can't give personal art advice or portfolio reviews. If you can, it's best to ask art questions in the blog comments.

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All images and text are copyright 2015 James Gurney and/or their respective owners. Dinotopia is a registered trademark of James Gurney. For use of text or images in traditional print media or for any commercial licensing rights, please email me for permission.

However, you can quote images or text without asking permission on your educational or non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you give me credit and provide a link back. Students and teachers can also quote images or text for their non-commercial school activity. It's also OK to do an artistic copy of my paintings as a study exercise without asking permission.

8 comments:

The painting is great, but what really got me this morning was the caption/description of the t-shirt guy and the Red Bull girl. Priceless.

Not to give the painting short shrift though, it's another gem. I particularly love the way the russet pencil adds a second color to the black and white gouache palette. Something about two color renderings (as I think I've posted before) has resonated with me since childhood. I've always ascribed that to the mutltitude of such illustrations when I was young - in textbooks, magazines in particular and especially "kid" publications like Jack and Jill Magazine, etc. But sometimes I wonder if there isn't something more than that personal appeal to me. The simplicity maybe?

Always love these little slices of life being served in the diner. The overheard and recorded snippets of conversation are more potential poetry (Guilty as charged, "organic poetry" is a phrase I coined. Didn't think about it-- though I now see it's a subtle variant on "found poetry," a term recognized in some quarters. If forced to explain the distinction I'd say organic poetry arises naturally and unintentionally from one's own work, whereas found poetry occurs in the word landscape produced by others. The diner talk could be found poetry.)

Like Tom, I've had a lifelong response to the impact of black and white -- ink drawings of E.H. Shepard, woodcuts of Albrecht Durer, scratch board images of F. Lee Jaques, wood engravings made from Dore drawings, Barry Moser's engravings -- these differ from gouache shades of gray but they share a related feel. And yes, I'd say simplicity is much of the appeal.

Glenn, good eye. I "borrowed" the hat from another diner because I changed my mind and wanted to make his head dark against light.

Ο σκύλος της Βάλια Κάλντα, I have a little point-and-shoot camera that I hold up every once in a while. We had good window light, so the pictures came out OK. People at the diner and waitresses are used to us sketching there all the time. No one even seems to notice anymore.

Gyrus, I don't know about that, but I always appreciate Steve's comments. I admire anyone who reads and reflects as deeply as he does. And of course I welcome any comments here on the blog and I appreciate all the unique perspectives.

Steve, if you don't mind, I'll use that term organic poetry, and that's organic in the truest sense of springing up from the raw ingredients of life. A lot of rock bands have those sorts of titles, though they can be a bit rude sounding: http://brightlightsfilm.com/weirdbandnames/#.VcJIxZNVikp. Joni Mitchell song lyrics, too: "icycles and birthday clothes." I've always wanted to use the name "Spoiler Alert" on a sketchbook.

Thanks, Tom, for the feedback. I enjoy the way the red pencil introduces a little unexpected variation into the black and white, just like putting a spritz of jalapeño sauce on the scrambled eggs.